West Monroe Study: 89% of Consumers Underestimate Subscription Spending

Published 2026-01-08 · TrimWell Media News

A study from West Monroe, cited widely across 2026 personal-finance coverage including GOBankingRates, found that 89% of consumers underestimate their own subscription spending, with 66% underestimating by more than $200 a year and 13% off by more than $400.

The research points to three specific behavioral drivers: 74% of respondents said it's easy to forget about recurring charges, 72% have every subscription set to autopay, and 42% admitted forgetting about a subscription entirely while still being charged for it.

A related figure reported by Fast Company, drawing on a 2025 CNET report, put average unused-subscription waste at $17/month (about $200/year) per person, with a separate Self Financial study estimating a slightly lower $10.57/month figure.

Taken together, the research paints a consistent picture: the gap between perceived and actual subscription spending isn't a matter of individual carelessness so much as a predictable outcome of how autopay and recurring billing are structured.

Check where you stand against these figures using the free TrimWell Score calculator.

Sources: GOBankingRates (citing West Monroe), Fast Company.